Clothes rinsing means for wringers



June 1956 o. N. COOPER CLOTHES RINSING MEANS FOR WRINGERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4 1951 AP me w w M w W June 5, 1956 o. N. COOPER 2,748,586

CLOTHES RINSING MEANS FOR WRINGERS Filed Dec. 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 0702 N. 6'0

a y v k 7. l4 a lllllllll allvllll lllll7 If! United States Patent CLOTHES RINSING MEANS FOR WRINGERS Orin N. Cooper, Garwin, Iowa Application December 4, 1951, Serial No. 259,741

11 Claims. (Cl. 68-22) This invention relates to clothes rinsing means for wringers and the like.

More specifically the present invention relates to a clothes rising means which may be associated with a conventional wringer mounted for operation in connection with a clothes washing machine.

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a clothes rinsing means at the entrance side of the wringer rolls which directs rinsing fluid toward the clothes and which also includes a means for collecting the rinsing fluid and to control the disposal of the latter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a regulatory fluid supply mechanism which may be used to either deliver fluid .to the washing machine tub or to the clothes rinsing mechanism adjacent the wringer.

A further object of the present invention is to provide control means coupled with the wringer operating handle to regulate the water by valving means both to the rinsing means and to the tub according to the normal demands of the washing operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a draining system which includes a conduit to the tub and a conduit to drain the solution from the rinsing apparatus whereby the rinsing water may be selectively drained into the tub or into the drain according to the regulation by the operator.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide water level control means to maintain a predetermined head of washing water within the washing machine tub and which water level control means is also eifectively arranged to shut oil any fluid supply from the present rinsing system to the tub in the event that the water level in the tub is at a maximum.

Other objects and advantages relating to the clothes rinsing means for wringers comprising the present invention shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of a wringer washing machine incorporating the clothes rinsing means of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the .line 2-2 in Fig. 1 to illustrate certain details of construction of the wringer and the associated clothes rinsing means;

Fig. 3"is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the rinsing water'collecting pan .and the associated rinse water supplying conduit to illustrate the manner in which these members are connected and related;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic layout of the rinsing system and the associated control means and conduits to illustrate the interconnected relationship .between such members with the wringer structure :and also with the washing tub of the washing machine; I

:Fig. :5 is .an enlarged .elevational .view .oflthe diversion valve used in connection with the drain from the rinsing system;

Fig. 6 is a modified construction illustrating another method of connect-ing the drain from the rinsing system with the tub level control means;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the diversion valve illustrated in the Fig. 6 arrangement;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the rinsing conduit and preferably a portion of the lower leg thereof to better illustrate the apertures therein; and

Fig. 9, is a detail view of a modified construction of rinsing mechanism employing an additional clothes con tacting roller in advance of the conventional wringer rolls.

In Fig. l, the washing machine comprises a tub I supporting a wringer 2 upon a column 3 which houses the wringer operating mechanism and drive from the washing machine motor. The wringer 2 is supplied with the usual wringer rolls 4 and 5 and a manually operable handle 6 is used for controlling the operation of the wringer 2. When the handle 6 is in vertical position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, this comprises a neutral position wherein the wringer rolls 4 and 5 are at rest. This position is indicated in Fig. 4 by the dot and dash lines N-N. Moving the handle 6 forward into the inclined plane of the dot and dash lines FF of Fig. 4 comprises the position wherein the mechanism for driving the wringer will operate the rolls. 4 and 5 to wring clothing that is taken from the tub 1 and inserted into the adjacent side of the rolls as illustrated in Fig. 1. Reversing the position of the handle 6 into the plane of the dot and dash lines RR shown in Fig. 4 comprises a reverse position wherein the rolls 4 and 5 are driven in the opposite direction.

The controlling elements of the present clothes rinsing means comprise the rectangular rinsing conduit 7 and the rinse water collecting pan 8 which are best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The pan 8 is designed for replacing the normal drainboard of a wringer and comprises the general shape illustrated in Fig. 2. This pan has a forwardly extending collecting trough 9 with its terminal end 10 rounded for the purpose of smoothly guiding clothing such as shown in dotted lines 11 over this approaching end of the rinsing water drain pan 8. This pan widens in the plane of the wringer to substantially encompass the length of the lower roll 5 and contains a suitable drain trough 12 which leads to and is connected with a rinse water drain conduit 13. This drain pan 8 terminates at the opposite side of the wringer 2 with a suitable clothes guiding trough 14 which may be made of various proportions and shapes to suit conditions of operation for delivering the clothing which has been rinsed and pressed in its passage through the combination wringer unit.

The rectangular conduit 7 comprises upper and lower legs 15 and 16 connected by vertical end legs 17 and 18. The leg 18 has a lateral inlet 19 for connection with a conduit 20 forming a fluid delivery connection with the water supply system. Each of the legs 15 and 16 are provided with apertures such as 21 and 22 respectively as best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, and these openings are preferably disposed in equivalent angular relation with respect to the plane of the rinsing conduit 7 to direct water in opposite inwardly directed streams of substantially the same angularities with respect to the plane of this conduit .7. With this arrangement, the conduit may be inverted to obtain the same rinsing effect but for the purpose of disposing the lateral leg 19 ,at the opposite side of the wringer if that is desirable.

' This rinsing conduit is preferably carried by means engaging the top of the wringer as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This strap 23 may be provided with one or more hand clamping screws 24 to engage the rear side 25 of the wringer 2 and the forward portion of the supporting saddle 23 terminates in an upturned hook or cradle 26 within which the upper leg 15 of the rinsing frame may be retained. In this connection, it may be stated that member 23 may have suflicient spring to permit the entrance of the upper leg 15 of the rinsing conduit into nested relation within the cradle 26. It is also contemplated to provide a rinsing frame such as 7 as a plastic structure having a certain amount of flexibility and pliability so as to be easily admitted or inserted into the cradle 26 as above described.

The lower portion of the rinsing frame or conduit 7 comprising the leg 16 is similarly supported within the drain pan 8 and within the loops 27 connected with the rounded forward end of the pan 8. One of these loops is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

With this arrangement comprising a co-relation of a rinse frame or conduit such as 7 disposed in advance of the wringer rolls 4 and and above a rinse water collecting drain pan 8, it is possible to supply rinsing fluid through the lateral connection 19 into the frame for distribution out of the openings 21 and 22 above and below the clothes respectively for rinsing the latter before they pass through the wringer rolls. Simultaneously, all of the rinse water together with the water being pressed out of the clothes by the wringer rolls 4 and 5 will be discharged and drained into the pan 8 for suitable disposal through the drain conduit 13.

As previously stated, rinsed water is supplied through the conduit 20 and lateral leg 19 of the rinsing frame 7. To provide a more completely controlled system for supplying rinse water and disposing of the drain water, the present invention incorporates the system illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

This system comprises a source of hot and cold water supplied through conduits 28 and 29 to a suitable mixing valve 30 which may be regulated from otf to on positions and to provide a selective temperature of mixed water for discharge into a conduit 31. Conduit 31 leads to a diversion valve 32 having a connection 33 with the conduit 20 for delivering rinse water to the rinse frame or conduit 7, and valve 32 has a further connection at 34 with a conduit 35 comprising means for delivering water to the tub I of the washing machine. Valve 32 comprises a suitable rotor 36 operated by means of a valve turning wheel 37 that is connected by means of a suitable chain or belt 38 to an attached pulley or wheel 39 which is secured for direct movement with the manually operable handle 6 of the wringer 2. Obviously, any suitable connecting or interconnecting means may be used between the wringer control handle 6 and the valve 32 to produce the controlled operation of the valve 32 for the positions indicated and hereinbefore described in connection with the handle 6. The rotor 36 of the valve 32 includes a segmental port 40 which normally connects the conduit 31 through valve 32 to the conduit 35 when the handle 6 is in neutral position on the line NN in Fig. 4.

With the parts in the positions indicated in Fig. 4, it is, therefore, possible to fill the tub I of the washing machine with a water supply of predetermined temperature as determined by the regulation of the valve 30 through the conduit 35 and into the pipe 41 connected with the float control valve 42 in the float chamber 43. This float chamber is connected with the tub in predetermined relation with respect to the maximum water level 44 specified for this washing machine. The float 45 will, therefore, normally close the water supply valve 42 when the specified level 44 is attained. Water enters the valve housing 43 with the valve 42 open and discharges through a screen 46 into a vertical discharge tube 47 through a plurality of baflles 48 and through a screen 49 and opening 50 into the bottom portion of the tub 1. Screen 49 prevents any clothing from entering the tube 47 and the battles 48 provide means to prevent the agitation of the churning water 51 that is agitated by the tub agitator from being transmitted into the tube 47 and upwardly into the chamber 43 to insure ettective operation in cutting off the water supply at the predetermined level 44. Chamber 43 is also provided with an overflow conduit 52 which will permit water to drain out of the tub I if the level 44 is exceeded when water is supplied to the tub from some source other than the rinsing mechanism. This overflow conduit or duct 52 is connected by a suitable Y 53 into the connecting sections 54 and 55 of the rinse water drain system.

Obviously, when the tub I is filled to the level indicated, valve 42 will shut off the supply from tube 35 so that no mixed water will enter from the mixed conduit 31 of the mixed valve 30.

When the wringer is placed in operation, it is necessary to operate the handle 6 into the position F--F in Fig. 4 which will revolve the rotor 36 of the valve 32 bringing port 56 in line with the mixed water discharge opening 57 so that the mixed water will then pass through the port 56 and out of the discharge opening 33 into the rinse water duct 20. By operating the valve 32 through the operation of the handle 6, the rinsing cycle is automatically placed in operation as described, thus causing the water to flow from the water supply system through the valve 32 and into the rinsing frame or duct 7 from which it will be discharged through the openings 21 and 22 against the clothing and ahead of the wringer rolls 4 and 5.

In the event that the rolls 4 and 5 are to be reversed, the handle 6 may be operated into the R-R position of Fig. 4, which will cut otf passage of water from the inlet 57 through the port 56 and to the rinsing system. However, movement of the handle into the position R-R will still permit water flow from the mixed water conduit into the water conduit 35 which leads to the tub. This is a convenience which may or may not be used by the operator under conditions where the handle 6 is moved to operate rolls 4 and 5 in reverse relation.

As the rinse water is supplied to the clothing ahead of the wringer rolls, such water is collected in the drain pan '8 which also collects the water squeezed from the clothing by means of the wringer rolls 4 and 5. All of this water collects in the depressed trough portion 12 of the pan 8 and discharges through the drain conduit 13 and into a valve 58 for distribution to a conduit 59 leading to the tub I or to the conduit 54 of the drain line 55.

This valve 58 is best illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises a control knob 59 connected to rotate a butterfly valve 60. The control knob 59 has a pointer 61 and suitable indieia such as 62 for indicating in which direc' tion the drain water flow is directed 'by the valve. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the control knob 59 is set to deliver the drain water from the inlet 63 of the valve to the outlet 64 which eonnects with the conduit 54. If the valve is operated in relation with the indicator 61 pointing to the indieia tub, the water will fiow from the inlet 63 out of the discharge outlet 65 and into the conduit 59. A pin 66 and spring detent arrangement 67 maintain the butterfly valve 60 in either of its two positions.

With the valve 58 in the drain system as described, it is possible to redirect the water drained into the collecting pan 8 back into the tub I when the water level in the tub drops during the wringing operation. If, however, cold water is supplied to the rinsing system through the mixing valve 30 and valve 32, it is desirable to direct the cold water away from the tub in which event the valve 58 may be operated to divert the water to the drain lines 54 and 55 for discharging such cold water.

It should also be noted that the conduit 59 includes a check valve 68 which only permits flow of drain water in the direction of the arrow 69 to the inlet chamber avanese 70 for passage through the valve 42 and into the chamber -43. The purpose of this 'check valve 'is to prevent supply water from the conduit 35 from backing up through the chamber 70 and out of the drain system to insure that all of the water supply through the conduit 35 is delivered into the tub when'needed.

In the modified arrangement illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the drain line 13 is directly connected with a diversion valve 71 through the inlet 72 for discharge through an outlet 73 through the drain duct 54 and through outlet 74 for connection with the conduit 52 which is disposed and connected at waterlevel with the-chamber 43,. Valve 71 is supplied by a manual control lever 75 which, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, places the butterfly valve 76 in the position indicated in Fig. 7

It should be noted that the butterfly valve 76 of the valve 71 is shorter than the "internal diameter 77 of the valve 71 so as to provide drain passages 78 and 79 for normally permitting 'o'verfiowwater from the tub I to pass out through the conduits 73 and 74 for draining to atmosphere. This condition will exist Whether the valve is regulated as indicated in Fig. 7 or if the valve occupies the position at 90 thereto for directing water from conduit 13 to the tub 1.

This modified construction also eliminates the entry of conduit 13 to the head 80 which connects with the chamber 43. Also the operation of the valve handle 75 in the full line position or in the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 6 will hold the butterfly valve 76 in either of the positions by means of the weight of the handle as it engages either of the pins 81 or 82.

As an additional modification, it is possible to use a spring pressed roller such as 83 in Fig. 9 for engaging the inwardly looped portion 84 of the front end of the drain pan 8. This roller 83 may be mounted by any suitable mechanism such as the pivoted arm 85 which is pivotally supported at 86 upon the drain pan. A spring 87 is connected between a bracket 88 supported on the pivotal structure of the roller and a fixed bracket 89 to normally urge the roller 83 downwardly in the direction of the arrow 90 and against the curved end of the drain pan.

The function of the present roller Will be to initially press out some of the Water retained in the clothes for drainage back into the tube over the rounded end 10 of the drain pan 8. A further purpose of this roller 83 will be to confine the rinsing water from the conduit or frame 7 to the confines of the pan 8.

The foregoing description is directed to certain preferred embodiments of the invention. It is possible, however, to deviate from the exact construction and arrangement shown without departing from the fundamental concept of the invention. Contemplated modifications and arrangements in the sizes and shapes of the parts shall be governed by the breadth and scope of the appended claims directed to the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A clothes rinsing means for a wringer comprising a wringer, a continuous and looped rinse water conduit disposed adjacent the wringer rolls to receive clothes therethrough, said looped conduit having rinse water discharge openings therein positioned to direct water against the clothes, and a drain unit carried by said wringer and arranged to receive the rinse water together with wringer roll water, said drain unit comprising an unobstructed open top pan disposed beneath said rinse water conduit and said wringer rolls, and drain water discharge means connected with said open top pan.

2. A clothes rinsing means for a wringer comprising a wringer, a continuous and looped rinse Water conduit disposed adjacent the wringer rolls to receive clothes therethrough, said looped conduit having rinse water discharge openings therein positioned to direct water against the clothes, and a drain unit carried by said wringer and arranged to receive the rinse water together with wringer roll water, said drain unit having' drain water discharge means, and coacting bracket members for positioning said rinse water conduit to encircle the path of travel of the clothes through the wringer comprising a releasable clamp member for one portion of said conduit and to engage a part of the wringer, and conduit engaging means carried by said drain unit for supporting another portion of said conduit in a predetermined spaced relation with respect to the wringer.

3. A clothes rinsing means for a wringer comprising a wringer, a looped rinse water conduit disposed adjacent the wringer rolls to receive clothes therethrough, said looped conduit having upper and lower hollow legs disposed adjacent the path of the clothes being fed to the wringer rolls, rinse water openings in said legs to discharge rinse water against top and bottom portions of the clothes, and means to support said looped rinse water conduit in a plane disposed in a predetermined angular relation with respect to the plane of the wringer rolls, and said rinse water openings of the legs respectively being positioned and arranged to discharge rinse water in planes each having equal angular relationships with respect to the plane of the loop of the rinse water conduit.

4. In a tub and wringer combination washing machine having a clothes rinsing unit supported above the tub and adjacent the wringer to direct rinse water against said clothes, the improvement which consists of an open drain pan interposed between said wringer and tub to receive rinse and wringer roll water therein, said drain pan having a rounded forward wall to guide clothes thereover and across said open pan for passage toward said rinse unit and into said wringer rolls.

5. In a tub and wringer combination washing machine having a clothes rinsing unit supported above the tub and adjacent the wringer to direct rinse water against said clothes, the improvement which consists of an open drain pan interposed between said wringer and tub to receive rinse and wringer roll water therein, said drain pan having a rounded forward wall to guide clothes thereover and across said open pan for passage toward said rinse unit and into said wringer rolls, and an auxiliary clothes squeezing roller coacting with said rounded forward wall of said open drain pan to remove excess tub water from said clothes for return into said tub.

6. In a tub and wringer combination washing machine having a clothes rinsing unit supported above said tub and adjacent the wringer to direct rinse water against said clothes, the improvement which consists of an open drain pan interposed between said wringer and tub to receive rinse and wringer roll water therein, said drain pan having a rounded forward wall to guide clothes thereover and across said open pan for passage toward said rinse unit and into said wringer rolls, and coacting bracket means connected with said rounded forward wall of said drain pan for the support of said rinse unit in a given relation with respect to said drain pan.

7. In a tub and wringer combination washing machine having a clothes rinsing unit supported above the tub and adjacent the wringer to direct rinse water against said clothes, the improvement which consists of an open drain pan interposed between said wringer and tub to receive rinse and wringer roll water therein, said drain pan having a rounded upstanding forward wall to guide clothes thereover and across said open pan for passage toward said rinse unit and into said wringer rolls, and said pan having a laterally enlarged sump portion arranged under and lengthwise of said wringer rolls, and a clothes guiding discharge trough portion on said drain pan at the discharge side of the wringer rolls.

8. In a washing machine having a wash water tub, wringer rolls disposed above said tub, a rinse water unit carried adjacent said wringer rolls and arranged to direct rinse water against the clothing entering said rolls, and

a rinse water feed line connected to supply rinse water to said rinse water unit, the improvement which consists of a rinse water collecting and disposing means comprising a rinse water collecting pan supported beneath said wringer rolls, drain means connected with said pan to carry collected rinse water out of said pan, and clothes guiding means on said pan disposed forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said wringer rolls and in predetermined elevations with respect to said pan bottom and said wringer roll contact point to aid in directing clothes through said \vringer rolls and to keep said clothes out of the pan and expended rinse water in said pan.

9. In a washing rinse water collecting pan of the character set forth in claim 8, but wherein said clothes guiding means and the remaining edge portions thereof all terminate substantially at an elevation coincident with the level of the point of wringer roll contact.

10. In a washing machine having a tub, a wringer with rolls arranged above said tub, and rinse water supply means disposed adjacent said wringer rolls and over said tub, the improvement comprising a rinse water collecting pan interposed between said wringer rolls and said tub, and an auxiliary roller mounted for operation ahead .of said wringer rolls and in contact with a forward edge portion of said pan to initially remove some of the tub water from the clothes to direct said water back into the tub, and resilient means to normally urge said auxiliary roller toward the adjacent pan edge contacted thereby.

11. In a rinse water pan of the character defined in claim 10, but wherein said pan is provided with upstanding peripheral edge portions terminating at or above, the level of the point of contact of said wringer rolls and wherein the area of contact of said auxiliary roller and the edge of the pan coacting therewith is located generally at the same level of said wringer roll contact.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,411,249 Allhiser Apr. 4, 1922 1,879,520 Rusden Sept. 27, 1932 2,099,163 Frantz et al. Nov. 16, 1937 2,223,858 Schellenberg Dec. 3, 1940 2,267,392 Barifii Dec. 23, 1941 2,358,256 Schellenberg Sept. 12, 1944 2,387,407 Patch Oct. 23, 1945 2,597,569 Cooper May 20, 1952 

